Lesson 2

• Shadow play is an ancient art form that uses flat, expressed figures to produce cut-out figures which are held together by sticks and sometimes thread, to create movement which are shown behind a thin layer of cloth or screen and a light source to create the shadows.
• Shadow play is popular among various cultures and countries and has a long history of tradition among Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia, but known to originate in China.
• Shadow play is considered as an ancient art form of storytelling and entertainment popular among children and adults.
• Drama is performed through dance movements, frequently with dialogue or sometimes, even singing, dance drama is popular for retelling of famous national literatures.
• Shadow play started in the Philippines in the year 1898 since the time of Dr. Jose Rizal, he staged the play entitled “Carillo”.
• Actors acts out scenes through a complex gesture language, which imitates actions in real life and are required rhythmic body movements as an expressive public performance.
• These movements are often accompanied by other elements, such as dialogue, pantomime, chants and costumes.
• Other than movements and gestures, creating the right setup, props and costumes, settings also play a big role in creating the right “feel” or “ambience” to deliver the message and story of the drama.
• Comedia or Moro-Moro is the earliest known form of organized theater created by Spanish priests. It is unique to the Philippines because there are no other countries that thought of or created the said drama.
• Comedia or Moro-Moro is is usually performed during fiestas and are performed in villages. Each performance in each village differ from one another.
• All Moro-Moro plays follow the pattern of a love affair between a Muslim-Filipino prince and a Christian princess. Religious differences became the main obstacle in their romance.
• Sarswela is a play with song and dances usually written in prose, depicting the peculiarity of romantic love among idealized Filipino characters that are often accompanied by topics of contemporary social, political, economic or cultural issues.
• Moro-moro - included in their costumes and props are shield, swords, lances and daggers of armed soldiers, Christians and Muslims nobles are dressed in gaudy and loud colored costumes.
• Sarswela are usually nationalistic in themes and are showcased by actors and actresses wearing Filipinianas, Barong Tagalogs and other local wear in the conventional era.
• Senakulo is one of the most famous events during the season of Lent, the theater play usually depicts stories and events from the Old and New Testaments related to the life, sufferings and death of Jesus Christ.
• Senakulo takes at least eight days to be performed from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, in different places; on the streets, on stage in a chapel or church.
• Sarswela originates from the Spanish form of musical-theater, the dramatic action is carried through the alternating combination of song and speech, and incorporates vocal ensembles, various types of folk music and dance.
• Traditionally Senakulo is acted out on a proscenium-type stage, with painted cloths or paper backdrops, called “telon”